Rise of the Queen
Chapter 13

"Now, shall we go? It's not safe to stay here for long," He offered his hand.

She gladly took it helping herself up.

They walked holding hands. "Are we going back home?" She asked.

"I'm glad you feel comfortable enough to call it home," He smiled at her, "I thought you hated the place."

"It's not the place I hated. I hated my trainer." She said pouting.

"You're still holding a grudge?" He raised his brows.

"yes, I don't forgive nor forget easily." She shook her head.

"I guess I'll have to make it up to you then." He smiled.

"Let's see." She shrugged.

"We've got a long way to go, tell me if you get tired, we can take a break."

With a puzzled look on her face, she asked him, "We're near home aren't we?"

"No, it's the opposite, we're very far from it." He replied.

"Then, you're telling me we're walking all the back?" She frowned at his words.

"Do we have any choice?" He raised a brow at her.

"I don't know, can't you use your powers and teleport us?" She shrugged.

"I don't possess that sort of powers," He chuckled shaking his head, "oh, man," She sighed in disappointment.

She stopped and stared at him for a moment, "What?" He asked. "Get ready, I'm going to eat your brains out before we get out of here." She smirked. "Eh?" He blinked at her words.

"I have too many questions and we've got too much of time." She explained.

He laughed, "Sure," He nodded as they resumed walking.

"Ah that reminds me, what does your wolf form look like?" She asked him with a curious look.

"Are you interested?" A sweet smile played on his lips.

"Yeah, I've seen Lia, Tyler, and others. And a few minutes ago I even met some other wolves, one of them claimed to be you and that could've got me in trouble, what if someone tries to trick me again?" She held in her breath as she remembered the encounter with the so-called Alpha King number two.

"Fine," He nodded, "I'll show it to you when you defeat me," He added.

"Isn't that foul play?" She pouted sulkily.

"Where has the confidence from before gone? You said you'd challenge and conquer me, remember?" He said reminding her of her declaration.

"Okay, fine. But who is he anyway? claiming to be 'The Alpha King'?" She asked.

"Just someone who couldn't be one." He shrugged.

"Heh?" she tilted her head in confusion.

"We were all candidates for 'The Alpha King'," He answered.

"Weren't you born with the title?" She frowned as she thought they were born with the title just as she did.

"No. All the alphas from different packs, younger, older, we all trained and fought for the title. At first, I thought I was asked to participate for the pack's pride, I was the future Alpha, but I later realized there were lots of expectations from me, they expected me to have the title not just participate and that hellish training..." he held his breath, "I thought I'd rather prefer to die, I was angry, I was just a young boy, I didn't get why was I going through the hellish training? Each pack had its own Alpha so we didn't exactly get it, why would you need an Alpha King? None of us knew the reason we were put through hell, some were after the power, some were fighting for their honor, we were only doing what we were asked for. But among us all, one was most enthusiastic about all this. And that was him. The one you met earlier." He explained.

"Oh, so he's just jealous because he didn't get it and you did, 'the one who didn't want it at all'?" She asked.

"It's not that I got the title offered in a silver platter, I earned it. Challenging all those mighty Alphas and gaining victory over them. If he really wanted the title, he should have done better," He rolled his eyes. "Are you boasting now?" She peered into his face.

"Yes, did that impress you?" He asked with a playful smile.

"I may be giving air to your ego but yes, yes you did," She nodded, jumping back to the topic she asked the questions swirling in her mind, "So what was the reason anyway? Did you get something except the title?" "Yes, a huge responsibility," He nodded.

"Only responsibilities? Nothing else? After all the hellish training that you talked about? there must be something?" She was curious.

"The power to protect my people." He answered.

"O-kay?" She made a face.

"Actually there's more." He added.

"See? I knew it. What?" She wiggled her eyebrows.

"Defeat me and I'll tell you," he said with a smirk on his face.

"I was just starting to like you again but there you go again. You and your arrogance. You're damn annoying. Tsk, Tsk." She clicked her tongue.

"If it's that annoying then get stronger and defeat me."

"Sure. I accept it." She glared at him.

"Now, now, don't get mad. Any other questions?" He raised his brows.

"Ah, that reminds me. You were inside my head, what's was that?" she asked.

"Hmm... that's one of my powers, I can communicate through the mind link." He answered.

"Wow, that's cool," Her eyes shined in admiration.

"You think?" He raised his brows.

"Kinda, earlier I was so scared but that assured me a little? I knew I wasn't alone and you were coming for me, so that helped me a lot earlier." She confessed nodding her head. "I'm glad it did." He smiled at her.

***

It was late when they reached the city, she was so tired and hungry so, Reagan took her to a restaurant. Before they could step inside, Reagan got a call he had to attend, excusing himself he step away few inches from her and answered the call, meanwhile she roamed around.

"It's empty. Have they closed already?" She peeked inside through the see-through glass door, she pouted when she read the sign 'closed'

Ending the call, he stood beside her, "Let's go in," He gestured.

"But it says 'closed"," She pointed her finger at the sigh against the door.

"Hmm,” He nodded but he went and pushed the door, the door chimed as it opened, "Here, your highness," He smiled at her, she was amused, she went in excitedly, his smile widened as he followed her.

The restaurant was radiant with all the luxurious interior and the lightings, a table had been set at the center well decorated and food was ready to be served.

She turned to him and raised her thumbs up, he mouthed 'thank you' as he pulled out a chair for her, "thank you," She smiled as she took her seat.

"anything you want, sir?" The waitress approached them and giving a bow, she asked Regan.

He dismissed her after a sentence, she didn't bother to listen as she was too busy staring at the food set on the table.

"Enjoy your dinner, mam, sir." The waitress bowed and took her leave.

"So? What's all this?" Alexa raised her brows at him.

"Me trying to make it up to you." He shrugged.

"If you're thinking, food can win me over, then..." She made a serious face which instantly broke into a wide smile, "you're absolutely correct," She smiled lifting the lids off the vessels.

"And they're my favorites," She drooled over the dishes, "I forgive you for everything," She extended her hand and patted on his shoulder.

***

After a fully satisfying dinner, "All's well that ends well," She smiled contentedly.

"Glad you liked it," Reagan smiled back at her.

The door chimed again as few people made their way inside, looking at them closely she realized they were her friends.

She smiled nervously at them, "Oh, hi guys," She raised her hand, waving at them slowly.

"Thank God, you're okay!" Conner and Murphy ran to her and immediately hugged her, more like squeezed her.

"I can't breathe!" She muttered under their bone-crushing hug.

"As long as you're fine." Tyler and Kevin heaved a sigh seeing her in one piece but obviously, Reagan brought her safe and sound, he was their Alpha King and her, his mate, so no surprise there.

"I'm sorry for all the trouble." Alexa apologized passing a nervous smile.

Her eyes then stopped at the petite figure, who was none other than her best friend, who had been standing away, turning her back against her.

Alexa slowly got up from her seat, approaching her best friend, she hugged her from behind, "I am fine, Lee. Sorry for worrying you."

"It's fine, I'm glad you're okay," Lia replied, "I'm sorry I should've done better. I failed to protect you." She added in a trembling voice.

"Come on, Lee. I was the one who planned to run away, It wasn't your fault," Alexa grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face her, "and..." Alexa lowered her eyes guiltily, "you know, I was the one being mean to you guys, I didn't listen to you and planned to run away, so the one apologizing should be me," She then turned her gaze to Tyler and Kevin, "Guys, I'm really sorry for being rude and saying mean things to you and not trusting you and creating all sorts of trouble. I should've been thankful but instead, I blamed you guys."

"Knowing your truth was a little overboard but you all didn't mean any harm and I overreacted and I was being a jerk and I've realized my mistakes, not trusting you, running away, these sorts of things won't happen again I swear. So please forgive me?" She raised her hands and brought them to her ears, "I'm sorry," She held her ears and apologized.

"Aww, Alex." Lia hugged her tight.

"Really aww, Alex." Tyler mocked her.

"Oh wow! This is grand! I didn't know Alex could apologize." Kevin gaped in a dramatic manner.

"Oh come on, you're behaving like I never apologize?" Alexa rolled her eyes at his action.

"Yeah, yeah, of course," Tyler gave a mocking smile.

"Are you trying to pick a fight with me?" She glared at him.

"Now that you and Lia have teamed up again, no thanks. I don't want to end up in a hospital." Tyler shook his head.

"No, but I'm sorry, I really am," She hung her head, slowly raising her head she looked at her friends, "So am I forgiven? can we go back to being friends again?" Alexa looked on.

"You're still asking?" Kevin laughed.

"We were never angry, Alex so there's nothing to be forgiven about and our friendship, when did we ever stop being friends?" Lia looked at her, "You're forever my best friend!" Lia pulled her into a hug.

"Me too." Tyler joined them.

"Me three," Conner added.

"Oh yes, a group hug, it's been so long," Murphy smiled as he joined them in a happy reunion group hug.